Flood Causes Heavy Damage in Israel; Army Conducts Rescue Work

December 31, 1954

TEL AVIV (Dec. 30)

Israel Army units swung into action today in rescue operations in the flooded areas around Tel Aviv and in carrying aid to residents in the immigrant camps and maabarot in central Israel suffering from flood conditions caused by torrential rains.

In one Tel Aviv suburb, the Israel Navy provided motorboats and crews to transport residents of houses isolated by the flood waters.

Reports of flood damage were coming in today from many parts of the country except the northernmost settlements and the Negev, the southern desert. The Tel Aviv area and central Israel, however, however, were hardest hit. Farmers who had welcomed the heavy rains earlier in the week, expressed fear today that the continuing downpour would do heavy damage. Many reported flooded fields.

Traffic around Tel Aviv was almost brought to a standstill by flood waters. Municipal workers, aided by the police, the fire department, Army units and volunteer workers, were engaged in evacuating women and children from flooded districts of the city.

The Tel Aviv municipal authorities issued an appeal today for gifts of blankets and clothing for the evacuees, stressing the special need for warm clothing for the children.